Giving At Hope

Financial giving can be done through MyHopeCC. However, if you don’t have a MyHopeCC account, feel free to use the links below to give online. Payments are made securely. Please note that you will need to create separate accounts if you wish to donate to both Hope Community Church and the Leadership Development Institute.

Hope's Understanding of Giving

Giving is a worshipful response to God. All of life is in response to how God has already given. Christ has freed us to truly live. We give not because we have to, but because we get to. This God who frees us is also the Creator and true owner of everything. We are simply His stewards, and are called to be intentionally mindful with how we steward His resources.

Giving cheerfully and sacrificially is a part of our worship. Hope believes there are endless ways to give and therefore bless others. This includes your:

Time

There are only so many hours in a day. How is God leading you to use your time? How can you use it better to focus on eternal things rather than temporal things? What are you investing your time in?

Talents

We believe God has gifted you in a unique and awesome way! You were specifically created to be a part of the larger body, so that it functions as a complete and healthy organism. How are you utilizing the ways God has wired you? How are you using your skills to be a blessing to those around you?

Treasure

God also gives us tangible resources that we are to steward. Let us never forget that God owns 100% of everything. It’s His to begin with. Often your heart will follow where your money is. Giving generously is a way to worship God.

Giving At Hope

Financial giving can be done through MyHopeCC. However, if you don’t have a MyHopeCC account, feel free to use the links below to give online. Payments are made securely. Please note that you will need to create separate accounts if you wish to donate to both Hope Community Church and the Leadership Development Institute.

Hope's Understanding of Giving

Giving is a worshipful response to God. All of life is in response to how God has already given. Christ has freed us to truly live. We give not because we have to, but because we get to. This God who frees us is also the Creator and true owner of everything. We are simply His stewards, and are called to be intentionally mindful with how we steward His resources.

Giving cheerfully and sacrificially is a part of our worship. Hope believes there are endless ways to give and therefore bless others. This includes your:

Time

There are only so many hours in a day. How is God leading you to use your time? How can you use it better to focus on eternal things rather than temporal things? What are you investing your time in?

Talents

We believe God has gifted you in a unique and awesome way! You were specifically created to be a part of the larger body, so that it functions as a complete and healthy organism. How are you utilizing the ways God has wired you? How are you using your skills to be a blessing to those around you?

Treasure

God also gives us tangible resources that we are to steward. Let us never forget that God owns 100% of everything. It’s His to begin with. Often your heart will follow where your money is. Giving generously is a way to worship God.

What To Expect On Sunday

A typical service consists of worship through song, the reading of Scripture, a message, and communion. It lasts about an hour and a half. We welcome people to participate in whatever way they feel comfortable. In other words, you are perfectly fine just sitting and observing.

We invite you to simply come as you are. The culture here is very laid-back, so people wear their casual clothes.

We have a team established solely to help make your visit as comfortable and hassle-free as possible. We call them our Hospitality Team, and they wear orange t-shirts. If you ever have a question, feel free to ask them at any time!

We’re not about making up something new, but are simply trying to communicate the age-old truths of Scripture in a way that makes sense to today’s audience. We’re not slick, and you won’t get polished performances. What you will get is real people trying to authentically live out the gospel in their lives.

A phrase we use a lot here is “we take God seriously, but don’t take ourselves very seriously.” We love good jokes, and laughter is a big component of who we are.

We really value community. Even though we are a large church, we often joke that “community is our middle name.” Every Sunday we open up our community room and supply drinks and Panera bread in hopes to give people a place to meet one another.

As great as a worship experience can be, we feel it is only the appetizer for the week. We believe worship is a continuous action, and so we are meant to be “the church” 24-7, not just for an hour a week. So, as great as a service can be to help you get to know us, it’s only a portion of what we’re about.

If you’re looking to get to know Hope more, or are interested in learning about how to get involved, go to our Connect page for more information!

Kids & Youth

Wondering where you can bring your kids on Sunday? Click on the age group below for more details.

We're committed to having a safe and healthy environment for your children and youth. Read about our child saftey policy and procedures.

Hope Kids (Birth-5th Grade)

Downtown

Nursery Care

Nursery Care for infants and toddlers is offered during the 9:00am & 11:00am worship services. All nurseries are located on 2nd floor of Hope East.

Sunday School

Sunday School for preschoolers – 5th graders takes place from 9:00am-10:30am Sunday mornings. Age specific classes meet in various classrooms throughout Hope West. Locate a Hospitality team member (wearing an orange shirt) and they will point you in the right direction!

Lowertown

Come to the door nearest the parking lot and you will see a sign instructing you on where to go.Thanks for your patience and help as we settle into our new location!

Hope Youth (6th Grade - 12th Grade)

Hope Youth Ministry exists to make fully devoted followers of 6th-12th graders. We build relationships in order to help each other take a step closer to Christ.

Sundays

During the school year we meet at 9am for a Jr. and Sr. High class that consists of studying the word, prayer, and connecting to each other.Jr. and Sr. High meet from 9am – 10:30am at Hope West.

Wednesdays

We have Youth Group for both Sr. and Jr. High on Weds. Nights. We spend our time playing games, studying scripture, meeting in small groups, and serving together.Youth Group - Weds. Nights 6:30-8:30pm

Service Links

Below you'll find links to our online giving, communication card, and the notes and message slides for Sunday's service. Feel free to download them to follow along or to save for later. Thanks for coming to Hope!

Brian Silver

Naty Severson

Carol Oawster

Drew Zuehlke

The vision of Hope Community Church is to honor God by helping as many people as possible become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

In 1996, Hope started with the simple desire to help remove barriers for people to see God. Hope Community Church is a group of people who are committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ - the "gospel" of His life, death, and resurrection.

Whether you're just checking out Christianity for the first time or if you're looking to grow deeper in your faith, we hope this can be a place for you to take that next step in your spiritual journey.

What We Believe - Our Statement Of Faith

The Word of God

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; John 20:31; Acts 20:32

The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. Gen. 1:1,26; Isa 44:6-8; John 1:1,3; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24; Rom. 1:19,20; Eph. 4:5-6

God the Father

We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Luke 10:21,22; Matt. 23:9; John 3:16; 6:27; Rom. 1:7; 1 Tim. 1:1,2; 2:5,6; 1 Peter 1:3; Rev. 1:6

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, empower, and gift all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells all who believe in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26,27; 16:9-14; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Gal. 5:22-26

The Church

We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary tasks of living a life of worship, nurturing the body of believers and giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Eph. 2:19-22; Acts 1:8; Eph. 5:19-21; Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:23-25

Christian Conduct

We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity. 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:1-3; Heb. 12:1-2; John 14:15, 23-24; I John 2:3-6; 2 Cor. 9:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:2; Col. 1:9-10

The Ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the public declaration of a believer’s faith in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins. We believe that immersion of the believer in water in the name of the triune God is the richest expression of the New Testament example. We believe that the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 11:23-26

Religious Liberty

We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by an ecclesiastical political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. 1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 14: 7-9, 12

Church Cooperation

We believe that local churches can effectively promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary basis. Acts 15:36, 41; 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:1; Gal. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:4, 10, 11

The Last Things

We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. Matt. 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts. 1:11; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thes. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:1; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Thes. 1:7-10; Rev. 20:4-6, 11-15

Our Core Values

For God’s Glory

In all the universe, there is nothing more important than God. God’s glory is the radiance of all that He is, and is what we are created to enjoy. Therefore, all of our ministries and efforts are about glorying God and we will aim to worship God in all that we do, not just in our corporate worship alone, but through the rest of our lives as well.“It ain’t about us, it’s about God.”

By God’s Grace

The grace of God shall permeate all that we do. We acknowledge that our only hope for a restored relationship with God is through the grace given to us at the cross of Jesus Christ. We will operate in a spirit of grace and humility, and will allow ourselves to be broken over our own sin.“We are all poster children for grace.”

Through the Truth of The Word of God

The Bible is our source of truth and our guide for living. Real life change happens only when it brings our lives into alliance with the God-inspired words of Scripture. We value teaching, preaching, studying and meditating upon God’s Word.“God’s Word changes lives!”

Depending on God through the Holy Spirit.

We have no desire to have the ministry of this church be powered on our own strength. We will rely on the Holy Spirit to lead, empower, and comfort us as we eagerly learn how to personally and corporately pray and worship.“Be a sailboat, catching the wind of the Spirit – not a speedboat, under your own power.”

Because All People Matter to God

The reason we desire to minister to others is because people, all people, matter to God. No matter how far away from God they may seem, they all matter to God (Luke 15). Therefore we will be relevant by being contemporary and removing any unnecessary obstacle to help people see Jesus Christ. We want to honor where each person is at in their personal spiritual journey, while encouraging them to go farther. We will do this all in a God honoring manner.“People matter to God.”

Therefore, We Hope to Make Disciples

Through loving relationships and the community created at Hope Community Church, we aim to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who would engage in knowing Jesus Christ through study and service. We highly value the smaller groups (mentorship relationships, small and cell groups, etc.) that can help facilitate these kind of life long, authentic, God-centered friendships.“Community is our middle name” & “Make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ”

And, Ultimately, Spread the Kingdom of God

We believe that as believers, we are on the offensive in a spiritual battle and therefore we will seek to go into the kingdom of darkness to do as much damage as we possibly can. We value kingdom of God related prayer, outreach, children’s ministry, community service, church planting, and leadership development to accomplish this.“Go into the kingdom of darkness and trash the joint.”

What We're About

The Gospel

We believe the gospel (or good news) of Jesus Christ is central to everything that we are about. The gospel is the glorious message of God’s creation of the world, humanity’s rebellion against Him, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ in restoring that relationship, and the hopeful expectation of the restoration of all creation. The gospel brings life transformation, and affects every area of life. We have little to offer anyone except the gospel.

Community

We believe that God created us to be beings built for community. We were not meant to “go it alone.” We strive to help foster a culture where authentic, transparent, and loving community can form.

Mission

God cares about all people, and as our hearts start to align with His we aim to be involved in what He's doing in our world. We are committed to being a blessing to all people and making Jesus known in our contexts, both locally and globally. The gospel affects everything you do, whether that be in your workplace, your neighborhood, your relationships, and so forth.

Leadership Development

We think one of the church’s primary roles is to raise up qualified, godly leaders. We don’t want to teach academic knowledge, but we aim for no less than a thorough knowledge of the Bible, a clear understanding of major doctrines, enhanced abilities to study and teach others God’s Word, and a biblical foundation for ministry. We strive for the highest character possible – that of Jesus Christ. This is not of secondary importance. Many a man and woman who were on their way to becoming kingdom impact players have been disqualified for leadership due to failure in this area. We aim for significant involvement where a leader is utilizing their spiritual gifts, applying the teachings of Scripture, being challenged to grow in their leadership, and serving with humility the needs of those both inside and outside of the church.

Church Planting

We aim to advance the kingdom of God by starting God glorifying, cross-centered, gospel focused, biblically sound, culturally relevant, impactful, reproducing churches in our city, state and beyond to help as many people as possible become worshipers of Jesus Christ. It will take many churches with different cultures to reach many different pockets of this world with different cultures. We think it will take a saturation of gospel communities in different areas to greatly impact their surroundings.

Hope's History

The history of Hope Community Church begins in a living room with 14 people dreaming of the ways by which God could become known to the people of Minneapolis who were just “kicking the tires” of Christianity, specifically those near the University of Minnesota. They dreamed of a church that would aim to find as many connecting points as possible with those who don’t believe in God showing the relevance of faith to daily living. They dreamed of a church where people would be welcomed wherever they were in their journey of faith and yet encouraged to go further. They dreamed of a church where community was more than just their middle name – it was the experience of each person that became part of the Hope family. They dreamed of a church where the teachings of the Bible would be clearly communicated and made understandable to those who weren’t accustomed to it’s message. They dreamed of a church where God would be number one in all that happened. They dreamed of a church that would play a role in spreading the kingdom of God – building up others in their faith and starting new churches to do the same.

1996

Could these dreams become a reality? Could God take 14 people and with the help of his power and direction make all of this happen? In 1996, the people of Hope Community Church began to meet regularly and held their first public service with great faith that God would make their dreams a reality. Since that time God has done much – only a portion of that can be recounted here:

Times of Provision & Prayer

The time (actually many times!) that God provided just enough during the early years allowing Hope to keep the doors open. The times that God taught the people of Hope how to pray and depend on him through a host of health crises.

2000

This marked the beginning of the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) to help raise up new leaders.

2002

The search began for a larger facility. This search led to a landmark event in our church’s history: the time when God gave Hope a building. We remain indebted to God, Tom Mouw, Dave Sulack, the members of Central Evangelical Free Church, and the Evangelical Free Church of America for this gift in the Spring of 2003.

2006

God allowed Hope to celebrate 10 years of fruitful ministry and caused leaders to begin dreaming again about what else God may want to do in and through the people of Hope – specifically, the prayer to start 10 new churches in the next 10 years.

2011

Hope again struggled with space problems. God was growing His church. Expanding the present property was not an option. God’s timing is amazing to us. Just as we were feeling this space crunch, the church building directly next to Hope, Augustana Lutheran Church, went up for sale. They agreed to sell the property to Hope for their initial construction price and pay forward their equity to the next generation! The building (Hope East) opened on Thanksgiving of 2013.

Times of Significance

Most significantly were the times God moved in the lives of individuals during a Sunday morning services, small group meetings, LDI classes, leadership meetings, times of prayer or service, musical worship, or the different retreats we took as a church or ministry…

For all of this and more we thank and honor God who has exceeded our dreams, above and beyond anything we could have asked or imagined (Ephesians 3:20).When the leaders of Hope began dreaming afresh in 2006 God provided new ways we could make him known to the people of Minneapolis and around the world. Here are a few ways that we are dreaming and you could be praying:

How could we bless our city?We are dreaming of ways that Hope could seek the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:7). We are seeking ways to be involved in raising the level of water in the harbor of Minneapolis so that all the boats rise with it – so that all the people of the city might be blessed.

How can we help Hope stay Hope?There are limitations in our building and parking. There are challenges that come with our desires to meet and treat each person individually, yet the number of attendees continues to grow. There is much to oversee and manage. How can we move from a family to a family-owned business in a way that many of the characteristics people appreciate about Hope remain intact?

How can we do as much damage to the kingdom of darkness?Hope’s aim is to help as many people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ and to get on mission with Jesus through Hope’s efforts to advance God’s kingdom. Hope dreams to see LDI and church planting efforts accelerated, so much so that they become a catalyst for training up as many followers of Jesus Christ as possible and starting a total of 100 churches nationally and internationally.

You.In the life of Hope there has been a constant and irreplaceable resource common in all we’ve ever done and all we’re currently doing – YOU. Hope would cease to exist if it weren’t for the partnership each Hopester has given to make God known. The original 14 people has become much larger, but each person remains critical – in building community, in communicating about who Jesus is, in raising up leaders, in prayer, in giving, in starting new churches – in fulfilling our vision to honor God in everything!

These are big dreams. Could these dreams actually become a reality? We believe God can make these dreams come true…and we believe he will!TO HIM BE THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS TO ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN! (Ephesians 3:21)

Affiliations

Small Groups at Hope

Why Small Groups?

Getting into a small group is the way to find and experience gospel community at Hope Community Church.

Small groups are 10-20 people who gather in homes across the Twin Cities throughout the week and focus on creating relationships, opening the Bible together, and challenging each other to walk with Christ. Their design is to help you live life with others at Hope beyond Sundays. Small Groups believe in life on life ministry, meaning that people are truly and significantly changed only as others come alongside of them in authentic community.

Click the button above to sign up for a small group. One of our team members will get back to you soon.

Community at Hope

We often joke at Hope that “Community is our middle name.” All we have to offer at Hope is gospel and community. It’s not an option for us.

Through loving relationships and the community created at Hope Community Church, we aim to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who would engage in knowing Jesus Christ through study and service. We highly value the smaller groups (mentorship relationships, small groups, etc.) that can help facilitate these kind of life long, authentic, God-centered friendships.

Want more information?

Please email us at smallgroups@hopecc.com or use the form below and we'll get back to you soon.